Sustainable Chemical Engineering

Impact of Sn-Doped Zn₃P₂ Nanopowders: Structural, Optical, and Photoluminescence Studies

2026-04-15T16:55:46+08:00

A solid-state method was used to create diluted magnetic semiconductor nanoparticles doped with Sn. These nanoparticles have the formula Zn_3-xSn_xP₂ , where x = 0.03, 0.05, and 0.09. The impact of Sn-dopant concentration on the optical, photoluminescent, and structural characteristics of artificial samples was investigated. The samples were created with a tetragonal structure, according to the X-ray diffraction study, and the diffraction peaks showed no additional Sn or impurities. As the Sn concentration rose, the lattice parameters changed from a = b = 8.1093 to 8.1431 Å and c = 11.1193 Å to 11.1398 Å. As the dopant level increased, the nanoparticles tended to clump together in the 500 nm region, according to scanning electron microscope images. The energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy study indicates that this dopant concentration is close to the required Sn, P, and Zn atomic ratios. UV-visible-near-infrared spectroscopy and photoluminescence tests were used to study the optical characteristics. With an increase in Sn concentration, the optical band gap grew from 1.422 eV to 1.432 eV. The examination of photoluminescence revealed emissions in the blue, violet, and ultraviolet bands.

Rapid Flash-Paper Combustion Synthesis of Technological Metals (Ag, Cu, Ni, Co)

2026-04-23T08:54:09+08:00

A rapid, low-cost, and scalable flash-paper combustion method is presented for the synthesis of technologically important conductive (Ag, Cu) and magnetic (Ni, Co) metals. In this approach, nitrocellulose-based flash paper functions simultaneously as a fuel and an in situ reducing agent, enabling a self-sustained, highly exothermic reaction to take place. Metal salt-impregnated sheets, prepared from aqueous solutions, are simply dried and ignited, resulting in the rapid formation of metallic powders within seconds, without the need for external reducing agents or prolonged thermal processing. The resulting products were characterized using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), confirming the formation of crystalline metallic phases, while electron microscopy revealed the formation of coarse, globular particles (30-90 μm) exhibiting compact morphology and low surface area (< 10 m²·g^-1). Phase analysis further indicated high metal purity (> 90%) for Ag, Cu, and Ni, whereas Co exhibited comparatively lower purity due to its higher susceptibility to oxidation during combustion. Functional validation was achieved by demonstrating electrical conductivity (Ag, Cu) through simple paper-based circuits and magnetic behavior (Ni, Co) via magnetization measurements. In addition, the intense heat generated during combustion was explored for proof-of-concept thermal and thermophotovoltaic energy harvesting. Compared to conventional metallurgical and chemical reduction routes, this method offers a unique combination of operational simplicity, ultrafast processing, reduced energy input, and elimination of costly chemical reductants. These features position flash-paper combustion as a promising platform for scalable production of functional metals, particularly in decentralized or resource-limited settings.

Posaconazole-Loaded PVA/SA-L-Valine Composite for Sustained Drug Delivery with Docking Study

2026-04-24T14:21:56+08:00

Self-Assembled L-valine (SA-L-valine) was synthesized and Posaconazole (POS)-Loaded Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) with SA-L-valine composite films were fabricated using a solvent evaporation method. The prepared samples were characterized by Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), and Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM). XRD results confirmed that SA-L-valine was properly incorporated into the POS/PVA matrix, forming an ordered morphology. FT-IR spectra revealed strong intermolecular interactions, suggesting effective complex formation, and FE-SEM images showed a clear sheet-like surface morphology with uniform structural organization. The drug release study at pH 3.4, 5.5, and 7.4 showed cumulative releases of 96.01%, 98.23%, and 95.52% within 24 h, respectively. The highest release at pH 5.5, which corresponds to the natural skin surface pH, indicates that the PVA/SA-L-valine film loaded with posaconazole is suitable for topical antifungal applications. In vitro antifungal activity evaluation using the disk diffusion method demonstrated significant inhibitory effects against fungal pathogens. Furthermore, molecular docking studies with the lipid transfer protein Sec14p from Saccharomyces cerevisiae demonstrated favorable binding interactions, confirming that the drug maintained its biological activity after formulation. These findings suggest that this composite may be a promising sustained release antifungal drug delivery system.

Sustainable Chemical Engineering

Impact of Sn-Doped Zn3P2 Nanopowders: Structural, Optical, and Photoluminescence Studies

Rapid Flash-Paper Combustion Synthesis of Technological Metals (Ag, Cu, Ni, Co)

Posaconazole-Loaded PVA/SA-L-Valine Composite for Sustained Drug Delivery with Docking Study

Impact of Sn-Doped Zn₃P₂ Nanopowders: Structural, Optical, and Photoluminescence Studies